EMLF's Careers in Energy Program
2024-03-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Duquesne University
Attorney Christina Puhnaty will serve as a panelist for the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s (EMLF) Careers in Energy Program on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Each year EMLF brings a panel of energy law practitioners to its member law schools to provide an opportunity for students to hear from those in the energy field and make connections with potential future employers. EMLF Staff is also in attendance to discuss EMLF’s academic scholarship opportunities and the Schetroma Travel Grant which provides travel to the EMLF Annual Institute. Panelists will discuss their educational and career paths and what the day-to-day duties are in their current role, as well as take questions from those students in attendance. For more information, click here.

2024 Annual PA Chamber Human Resources Conference
2024-03-21 08:00 - 15:30 | Best Western Premier The Central Hotel and Convention Center
Babst Calland joins the PA Chamber of Business and Industry for its Annual Human Resources Conference on Thursday, March 21, 2024. This event will feature updates from state and federal experts on the latest human resources laws and discussions on leading human resources topics that you can apply to your day-to-day operations. Attorney John McCreary will be a co-presenter for “Medical and Recreational Marijuana — Understanding the Legal Landscape.” For more information, click here.

2024 Appalachian Land Institute
2024-04-04 07:30 - 12:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe
Babst Calland joins the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) for its 2024 Appalachian Land Institute, April 4-5, 2024. Attorney Susanna Bagdasarova will present “Understanding the Basics of Artificial Intelligence.” For more information, click here.

PBI’s 2024 Environmental Law Forum
2024-04-10 09:00 - 2024-04-11 16:15 | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Babst Calland joins the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) for its 2024 Environmental Law Forum, April 10-11, 2024. The following attorneys will be presenters:
Gina Falaschi Buchman (“Basics of Federal and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Regulation”);
Betsy Dupuis (“Land Use/Zoning Law Update”);
Kevin Garber (“Planners’ Roundtable: Climate Conscious Lawyering Revisited”); and
Jean Mosites (“Climate Change Litigation: Past, Present and Future”).
Kevin Garber also served as a member of the planning team for this Forum. For more information, click here.
Gina Buchman
Betsy Dupuis
Kevin Garber
Jean Mosites

Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Symposium 2024
2024-04-12 09:00 - 15:30 | Webinar
Babst Calland joins the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) for its Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Symposium 2024 on Friday, April 12, 2024. Employment and Labor Attorney John McCreary will present “Don’t Bogart That Job – Medical Marijuana in the Workplace.” For more information, click here.

2024 PIOGA Spring Meeting
2024-04-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Rivers Casino
Attorneys Kevin Garber, Jean Mosites and Gary Steinbauer will co-present “Legal Update on Regulatory Issues” during PIOGA’s Spring Meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2024. For more information, click here.
Kevin Garber
Jean Mosites
Gary Steinbauer

Digital Law: Navigating AI in Legal Practice
2024-04-26 08:00 - 16:30 | PNC Park Left Field Lounge
Attorney Susanna Bagdasarova will present “Digital Law: Navigating AI in Legal Practice” at the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s (ACC) Spring Training on Friday, April 26, 2024. The last year has been characterized by a rapid increase in the interest and awareness of artificial intelligence (AI). This session will provide an overview of the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its implications for legal professionals. It will cover the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, recent regulatory developments, available legal AI tools, and key considerations for in-house counsel. Join the ACC as they gain insights into developing internal AI use policies and practices, navigating AI use by outside counsel, and understanding and addressing key risks associated with AI implementation by employees and third party vendors, including intellectual property, privacy, and cybersecurity. For more information, click here.

2024 WVMEG Summit
2024-05-06 11:30 - 2024-05-07 13:30 | Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, WV, 465 Lodge Dr, Wheeling, 26003
Babst Calland joins the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) for its 2024 WVMEG Summit, May 6-7, 2024. This regional, annual event brings together manufacturing and energy leaders, state and local officials, economic development professionals, and friends of industry and energy from West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Summit attendees will explore the broader intersections of manufacturing and energy from power generation to downstream manufacturing development through feedstocks by created oil & natural gas and rare earth extraction. Expert presenters will provide updates and new information on a variety of issues relating to manufacturing and energy.
Attorney Robert Stonestreet will serve as the moderator for “Making Steel in West Virginia & its Connection to Manufacturing.” West Virginia has a long tradition of steel making and that tradition continues today. With this panel, you will learn about steel’s connection to the mining of metallurgical coal, the importance of other manufactured resources with the production of steel, and its end use in nearly every facet of our lives, from buildings and facilities, highways and bridges, and other construction projects. For more information, click here.

ACBA CLE - Befriending the Court: A Primer on Amicus Curiae Practice Before Pennsylvania Appellate Courts
2024-05-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Koppers Building E.P. Mellon Room, 436 Seventh Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Attorney Casey Coyle will serve as a panelist for the Allegheny County Bar Association’s (ACBA) “Befriending the Court: A Primer on Amicus Curiae Practice Before Pennsylvania Appellate Courts” CLE program on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. This panel will consist of experienced appellate attorneys who will discuss the fundamentals of, and best practices for, participating as an amicus curiae in appeals before Pennsylvania appellate courts. Panelists will cover procedural requirements for participation, briefing requirements, strategies for success and ethical considerations in this highly specialized, but increasingly common, practice area. For more information, click here.

What Every Business Needs to Know About Recent SCOTUS Rulings
2024-07-31 10:30 - 12:00 | Zoom Webinar
Attorney Christina McKinley will be a presenter for the PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s Government Affairs Webinar: “What Every Business Needs to Know About Recent SCOTUS Rulings” on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently issued several major decisions that will have profound impacts on the business community. From the elimination of “Chevron Deference” to other landmark rulings curtailing the power of federal regulators, SCOTUS has realigned the separation of powers to restrict the administrative state. What does this mean for your business and the future of federal rulemaking? For more information, click here.

Real Property Concerns in Corporate Transactions
2024-08-28 08:00 - 16:30 | Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Attorneys Mary Binker, Kevin Wills and Jess Barnes will present “Real Property Concerns in Corporate Transactions” at the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s (ACC) Back to School: An In-House Primer on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. This presentation will provide a primer on common issues that come up in transactions involving real property, including title, survey, and zoning matters. For more information, click here.
Mary Binker
Kevin Wills
Jess Barnes

15th Appalachia Energy Law Conference
2024-09-04 17:30 - 2024-09-05 17:30 | Fairmont Pittsburgh, 510 Market Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Babst Calland joins the Institute for Energy Law and the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) at the 15th Appalachia Energy Law Conference (f/k/a Law of Shale Plays Conference), September 4-5, 2024. Focused on legal issues related to onshore energy production, primarily oil and gas production in Appalachia, this conference brings together clients, attorneys, professional landmen, and other professionals to learn and discuss important cases, concepts, and trends. In addition, the conference features multiple networking opportunities with other attendees.
Attorney Jim Chen will be a co-panelist for the “New Opportunities in the Emerging Transportation and Energy Sector” session. New technologies have emerged with the increasing growth of alternative energy into the grid mix. These new technologies expressly include the use of energy storage in the form of lithium-ion batteries that have proven to be a resilient and reliable option to store energy to even the flow of generation from intermittent sources such as wind and solar. The battery technology has also proven helpful in grid stabilization, supplemental sources for peak demand, and backup power in cases of failures. With the increasing demand for this technology growing in several sectors (e.g., electric vehicles as well as stationary application), questions have arisen regarding the sourcing of the raw materials and processing of minerals to manufacture those batteries. Currently, the majority of minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, bauxite and others are either produced or processed in foreign countries of concern (e.g., China). The current Administration has established a policy of onshoring sourcing of these minerals and their attendant processing in the United States. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $2.3 billion loan to Lithium Americas for development of a lithium carbonate processing plant in Nevada. Additional incentives and funding for those incentives were included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This seminar will review the background in the growth of this new sector and how domestic industries in mining and mineral processing can potentially benefit from the new and developing federal policies supporting the growth of this industry.
Attorney Jenni Hicks will serve as a conference co-chair. For more information, click here.
Jim Chen
Jenni Hicks

2024 PIOGATech: Water & Waste Management Training
2024-09-12 09:00 - 16:00 | Hilton Garden Inn – Cranberry
Environmental Attorney Jean Mosites will present on PFAS during the PIOGATech: Water & Waste Management Training Seminar on Thursday, September 12, 2024. For more information, click here.

Shale Insight 2024
2024-09-24 17:00 - 2024-09-26 13:45 | Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA, 16507
Babst Calland joins the Marcellus Shale Coalition for Shale Insight 2024, September 24-26, 2024. Shale Insight offers participants unprecedented interaction with industry-leading CEOs, elected officials and thought leaders, all of whom play a critical role in crafting the public policy and technical landscape that defines shale gas development around the world. Insightful technical and public affairs sessions, national keynote addresses, and networking receptions will provide attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors unique access to the industry’s most influential leaders and innovators.
Attorneys Christina McKinley and Gary Steinbauer will be co-panelists for “Climate Change Litigation and Related Federal Regulations, Including EPA’s Methane Rule.” Panelists will describe and explain the status of litigation by cities and states against fossil fuel producers, including the two matters before the United States Supreme Court that will determine the direction of dozens if not hundreds of cases now pending in state courts. In addition, panelists will examine EPA’s Methane Rule and its various components, share updates and insights on the Methane Rule’s implementation and legal challenges, and discuss the relationship between EPA’s Methane Rule and EPA’s recent changes to the oil and gas greenhouse gas reporting requirements and proposed methane fee rule.
Attorney Max Junker will be a co-panelist for “Municipal Update: Recent Ordinance Activity, Working with Townships, and More.” This session will provide a summary of recent ordinance activity throughout the Shale Play and include a discussion of best practices for managing relationships and projects between operators and township officials and staff.
Attorney Jim Chen will present “New Opportunities for Critical Minerals from the Oil and Gas Industry.” As the United States continues to develop new and existing sources of energy to diversify supply in light of exponential demand growth, the need for domestically produced and processed critical minerals (e.g., lithium) is presenting new opportunities for American companies. Current and future potential Administrations recognize the need to support domestic industries with a range of policy and legislative initiatives that support and grow raw material sourcing and supply. This session will examine existing policies and the potential direction of future growth in the new energy era for existing industries.
For more information, click here.
Christina McKinley
Gary Steinbauer
Max Junker
Jim Chen

PA Chamber Annual Dinner
2024-10-07 16:30 - 21:00 | Hershey Lodge
Babst Calland joins the PA Chamber of Business & Industry for its Annual Dinner on Monday, October 7, 2024. For more information, click here.

2024 EMLF Fall Symposium
2024-10-15 08:00 - 2024-10-17 12:30 | Hyatt Regency Lexington
Babst Calland joins the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) for its Annual Fall Symposium, October 15-17, 2024.
Litigation Attorney Kevin Douglass will present, “Has a Company Leader Misbehaved? Internal Investigations of Key Company Personnel.” An employee or third party accuses your company’s owner, director, officer or executive of misconduct. When faced with an allegation that can potentially expose your company to legal, financial and reputational harm, it is critical that the company promptly investigate the facts and assess the business risk, particularly when the allegation involves a company leader. This presentation will address 1) the factors to consider when determining whether to perform an investigation, 2) the selection of an investigative team, 3) the development and execution of an investigation plan that prioritizes confidentiality and privilege protections, and 4) the conclusion of the investigation and reporting on the results. For more information, click here.

2024 PA Chamber’s Annual Environmental Conference
2024-10-24 08:00 - 14:30 | Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey
Environmental Attorney Matt Wood will co-present “Water Issues — PFAS” at the PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s Annual Environmental Conference on Thursday, October 24, 2024. This Conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to provide critical updates on environmental policy in the Commonwealth. It also explores insights and aspirations for the future of energy and infrastructure investment in Pennsylvania, as well as what that future holds for the state’s emerging policy landscape. For more information, click here.

New Opportunities for Critical Minerals
2024-10-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Webinar
Attorney Jim Chen will present “New Opportunities for Critical Minerals” to the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Environmental & Energy Law Section’s Energy Law Committee during its Lunch & Learn on Thursday, October 31, 2024. As the United States continues to develop new and existing sources of energy to diversify supply in light of exponential demand growth, the need for domestically produced and processed critical minerals (e.g., lithium) is presenting new opportunities for American companies. Join us to learn about why domestic minerals are important for America’s energy future, existing policies and the potential direction of future growth in the new energy era. Fore more information, click here.

24th Annual Amen Corner Senator John Heinz Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon
2024-11-01 11:30 - 13:30 | DoubleTree Hotel, Green Tree, 500 Mansfield Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15205, United States
Babst Calland joins Amen Corner for its 24th Annual Senator John Heinz Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 1, 2024. This event pays tribute to the men and women of law enforcement who have gone above an beyond in making our communities safer and honors those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. For more information, click here.

Countdown to Compliance: Navigating FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Reporting Obligations by Year-End
2024-11-07 08:30 - 10:00 | Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh, 329 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Attorneys Susanna Bagdasarova and Chris Farmakis will present “Countdown to Compliance: Navigating FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Reporting Obligations by Year-End” to the the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
With a January 1, 2025 compliance deadline looming, business entities must understand their compliance obligations under the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Rule, promulgated under the Corporate Transparency Act. During this presentation, we will explore the key aspects of the rule, including its purpose and scope, as well as exemptions from and requirements for compliance by the upcoming deadline. Participants will gain insights into identifying beneficial owners, the necessary information to report, and the implications for legal practice. We will also discuss best practices for ensuring compliance and potential pitfalls to avoid. By the end of the session, attendees will be better equipped to navigate this important regulatory framework.
For more information, click here.
Susanna Bagdasarova
Chris Farmakis

Land Use Institute 2024
2024-11-18 09:00 - 17:10 | Webinar
Attorney Michael Korns will be a presenter for “Validity Challenges for Unique and Evolving Land Uses” during the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Land Use Institute 2024 on Monday, November 18, 2024. When a municipality has not updated its zoning and land use ordinances to accommodate new uses, or to provide for new models of existing uses, it may be subject to challenge as exclusionary. This session will explore the grounds for validity challenges to land use ordinances when the use does not appear to be provided for, and the tension between the mandate to provide for all legitimate uses, while not being required to zone for every business model. The session, featuring both solicitors and attorneys for property owners and developers, will also address means of preventing validity challenges, and the successful defense of such challenges. For more information, click here.

A-Z on AI!
2024-12-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Webinar
Attorney Susanna Bagdasarova will join a distinguished panel for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform’s “A-Z on AI!” online course on artificial intelligence in the legal profession on Monday, December 9, 2024. Attendees will receive an overview of AI, learn about legal developments in AI, as well as the future of AI in the practice of law. In addition, they will hear the medical liability perspective on AI, how the defense can weaponize AI, and the ethical issues of AI in legal practice. For more information, click here.

2024 PAAZO Fall Seminar
2024-12-10 09:00 - 15:30 | PSATS Education Center
Municipal Attorney Morgan Madden will present a “Zoning and Code Enforcement Procedure Refresher” at the 2024 PAAZO Fall Seminar on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. This session will be a step-by-step guide on the procedures that must be followed in enforcing zoning and other municipal ordinances. This discussion will begin with a short reminder on what must be included in common types of notices of violation and the differences in procedure between zoning enforcement and enforcement under the UCC and IPMC. The review will be followed by interactive “case studies” identifying common mistakes made during the code enforcement process. For more information, click here.

Pipeline Safety in a Nutshell
2025-01-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Webinar
Pipeline & HazMat Safety Attorney Keith Coyle will present “Pipeline Safety in a Nutshell” to the Pennsylvania Bar Association during its Environmental and Energy Law Committee’s Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. This presentation will cover the critical features of the Pipeline Safety Act, including the roles and responsibilities of PHMSA and its state partners, the effect of the statute’s federal preemption provision and the process for prescribing new pipeline safety standards. For more information, click here.

Smart Business Dealmakers Conference - The Middle-Market M&A Conference
2025-02-27 08:00 - 17:30 | Wyndham Grand Hotel Downtown, 600 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Babst Calland joins Smart Business for its Dealmakers Conference, “The Middle-Market M&A Conference,” on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Corporate and Commercial Attorney Kevin Wills will be a moderator for “Settling Into the Current Deal Paradigm.” If you’re considering taking your company to market for any type of M&A transaction you’ve likely noticed we’ve entered a time with more uncertainty, greater volatility, and more stringent due diligence. What does that mean for executives looking to get deals done in this new ecosystem, and how can you best navigate today’s environment to get your house in order so that you’re able to close deals? Join this session for a frank conversation on what blocking and tackling looks like today.
The Smart Business Dealmakers Conference connects hundreds of local dealmakers — from middle-market CEOs to top investors and lenders to leading M&A advisers. With sessions ranging from raising capital to selling companies, this conference covers the breadth of the M&A landscape. For more information, click here.

2025 OOGA Annual Meeting
2025-03-05 10:00 - 2025-03-07 13:00 | Hilton Columbus at Easton, 3900 Chagrin Dr. , Columbus, OH, 43219, United States
Babst Calland joins the Ohio Oil & Gas Association (OOGA) for its Annual Meeting, March 5-7, 2025. Environmental Attorneys Robert Stonestreet and Mackenzie Moyer will present an “Overview of NEPA and PFAS, Two Federal Environmental Issues Impacting the Oil and Gas Industry.” For more information, click here.
Robert Stonestreet
Mackenzie Moyer

Shale Industry & Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum
2025-03-25 14:30 - 19:00
Babst Calland joins Shale Power for its Shale Industry & Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. This Forum will feature industry representatives, local and regional manufacturers, energy leaders, and companies involved in the shale supply chain, including Attorney Moore Capito. For more information, please click here.

ABA SEER’s 54th Spring Conference
2025-03-26 11:30 - 2025-03-29 21:30 | Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, 19107, United States
Babst Calland joins the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) for its 54th Spring Conference, March 26-29, 2025. The Spring Conference brings top practitioners, experts, and thought leaders together for a deep dive into some of the most compelling and timely topics in the field of environment, energy, and resources law.
Environmental Attorney Christina Puhnaty will serve as the moderator for “All the Latest HAPpenings: The Transformation of the Clean Air Act’s Air Toxics Program.” Nearly 35 years after it was strengthened as part of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments, the CAA’s air toxics program is being reshaped and expanded significantly to add unregulated air toxics, remove affirmative defenses, and address environmental justice. In the last four years, the EPA has revised numerous National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the chemical, power, steel and iron-making, commercial sterilization, and other industrial sectors. The EPA is advancing policy-based rulemakings to add unregulated Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) to the air toxics rules, making it more difficult for sources to reclassify as area (i.e., lower-emitting) sources, and strengthen emissions limitations and work practice standards. Fenceline monitoring and community risk models are being touted to promote environmental justice. Join this panel of “airheads” who are on the front lines of these changes (and several related
lawsuits) to learn how these broad shifts are affecting this critically important CAA program and how businesses and the lawyers they rely on can stay ahead of the curve.
Environmental Attorney Gary Steinbauer also served on the Conference Planning Committee.
For more information, click here.
Christina Puhnaty
Gary Steinbauer

PBI’s 2025 Environmental Law Forum
2025-04-09 08:45 - 2025-04-10 16:15 | Harrisburg Hilton & Towers, One North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Babst Calland joins the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) for its 2024 Environmental Law Forum, April 9-10, 2025. The following attorneys will be presenters:
Jim Chen – “Development of Critical Minerals”
This session will discuss why domestic minerals are important for America’s energy future, existing policies, and the potential direction of future growth in the new energy era.

Kathy Condo – “Expert Witnesses: Effective Use”
Expert witnesses are critical in most environmental litigation. This presentation addresses how to use expert witnesses most effectively, including their expert reports, qualifications, and direct and cross examination.
Betsy Dupuis – “Land Use/Zoning Law Update”
Development in Pennsylvania, including most projects involving environmental issues, is governed by the Municipalities Planning Code and local zoning and land use laws. The application of local land use laws frequently involves the interplay of those laws with state and federal law. This session will review significant land use cases decided over the last year in Pennsylvania, with a focus on review standards, standing requirements, preemption doctrine and constitutional law. This area of the law is continually evolving, and this session is designed to better understand how zoning and land use laws could impact your next project.
Kevin Garber – “Planners’ Roundtable: Advising in a Time of Change”
This Administration has changed a lot and quickly. It has talked about changing more. The change has happened in conventional and unconventional ways. The change affects procedural underpinnings of federal environmental law and its substance. The Planners will briefly review some of the more significant areas of change in order to focus on an environmental lawyer’s professional (not political) responsibilities to clients, to the legal system, and to others in this moment.
Kevin Garber also served as a member of the planning team for this Forum. For more information, click here.
Jim Chen
Kathy Condo
Betsy Dupuis
Kevin Garber

2025 PIOGA Spring Meeting
2025-04-17 09:00 - 17:00 | Rivers Casino
Environmental Attorney Gary Steinbauer will provide a “Regulatory Update” during PIOGA’s Spring Meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025. For more information, click here.
